PROCEDURES FOR AUTOMOTIVE AND OTHER WASTE

Special
procedures are currently in used at NMSU for motor oil, vehicle anti-freeze, lead-acid
batteries, other hazardous batteries, and hazardous surplus materials (such as asbestos,
PCB transformer or capacitor oil, etc)

A.
BATTERIES

Lead-acid
batteries (i.e., batteries which contain lead and sulfuric acid, such as automotive
batteries) are hazardous and must be turned in to the battery storage facility.

It is the
generator's responsibility to insure that all caps on the battery cells are tightly in
place and that the battery is not leaking.If
caps are missing, or batteries are cracked, the battery must be patched or capped prior to
turn in.Call EH&S for assistance with
problem batteries.

The electrolyte
(acid) must not be separated from the battery.If
separated, two hazardous wastes are created.The
battery is a hazardous waste because of lead content and the electrolyte is a hazardous
waste because of the characteristic of corrosivity.

Alkaline
batteries, identifiable by the word "alkaline" on the label, are a non-hazardous
waste and may be disposed of in any trash receptacle, with ultimate disposition in the
NMSU landfill.

Carbon-zinc
batteries (common flashlight or lantern battery, sizes AAA to D) are a non-hazardous waste
and may be disposed of in any trash receptacle, with ultimate disposition in the NMSU
landfill.

Mercury
batteries (labeled "mercury") are a hazardous waste because of the mercury
content.The batteries must be collected in
an approved Waste Accumulation Area.Call
EH&S for locations of the Accumulations.

Nickel-Cadmium
rechargeable batteries, commonly used in emergency power systems, are a hazardous waste
because of their cadmium content.The
electrolyte from wet nickel-cadmium batteries must be separated from the batteries prior
to disposal.Both the battery and the
electrolyte are hazardous waste.All spent
nickel-cadmium batteries must be collected in an approved Waste Accumulation Area.Call EH&S for information in proper
electrolyte removal, disposal procedures, and locations of the Accumulation Areas.

Silver-Oxide
Batteries are a hazardous waste because of the silver content.They must be collected in an approved Waste
Accumulation Area.Call EH&S for
locations of the Accumulation Areas.

Unidentified or
Other Batteries - EH&S must be contacted prior to the disposal of any battery not
listed in this procedures or if personnel are uncertain of the battery type.

B.WASTE OIL

Used oil drained from engines or machinery
shall be transferred to a Waste Accumulation Area and placed in the appropriate container

Containers used for the accumulation of used oil
must be 55-gallon capacity steel drums with closed heads.

When a container is full it will be turned in
to EH&S . Prior to a full container being
turned in, the Generator will insure that:

a. The waste oil is in a 55-gallon closed
head drum which is clean and in good condition.

b. The drum has a legible NMSU/EH&S
label.

c. The drum has a properly completed log
book

d. The drum is not overfilled, i.e., 6
inches of space should remain between the level of the liquid and the top of the drum

e. The composition (the percentages of each
type of oil [mineral, motor, hydraulic, etc.], water, dirt, etc.) of the waste is written
on the top of the drum with a permanent marker.

C. WASTE ANTI-FREEZE

Anti-freeze (used ethylene glycol or alcohol based
coolant) drained from engines or machinery shall be transferred to a Waste Accumulation
Area and placed in the appropriate container.

Containers used for the accumulation of
anti-freeze must be 55-gallon capacity steel drum with closed head.

When a container is full it will be turned in
to EH&S .Prior to a full container being
turned in, the Generator will insure that:

The waste
anti-freeze is in a 55-gallon closed head drum which is clean and in good condition.

The drum has a
legible EH&S label.

The drum has a
properly completed log book

The drum is not overfilled, i.e., 6 inches of space should remain between
the level of the liquid and the top of the drum.

The composition
(the percentages of each type of anti-freeze, water, dirt, etc.) of the waste is written
on the top of the drum with a permanent marker.

D. HAZARDOUS SURPLUS MATERIALS

It is the responsibility of the Generator
to make an attempt to find an alternative user for the material prior to the declaration
of surplus and subsequent request for disposal.

A waste disposal sheet must be completed
for each hazardous surplus material.

Hazardous surplus material remains
product and must be handled as such until accepted for disposal by EH&S .